Key holder



P 1962 c. E. MORRIS 3,053,072

KEY HOLDER Filed June 1,' 1960 v T I Q N I INVENTOR.

iFiEIA. f CHARLES E. Moms BY v United States Patent 3,053,072 KEY HOLDERCharles E. Morris, Elberon, NJ. Wilson Ave., Oakhurst, NJ.) Filed June1, 1960, Ser. No. 33,311 3 Claims. (Cl. 70456) The invention hereindisclosed relates to devices for holding a group of commonly used keysand the objects of the invention are to provide a simple inexpensiveform of container which will hold the keys in compact relation, coveredand protected but readily accessible for use.

Particularly it is a purpose of the invention to provide such a holderin a small light weight size which, While fully covering the blade oractive portions of the keys, will leave the head or handle portionssufficiently exposed for the convenient separation and use of theselected keys.

The objects mentioned and further desirable objects attained by theinvention and the novel features of construction, combination andrelation of parts comprising the invention are set forth and will appearin the course of the following specification.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of this specificationillustrates a present practical embodiment of the invention. Structurehowever may be modified and changed as regards the immediateillustration, all within the true intent and scope of the invention ashereinafter defined and claimed.

FIG. 1 in the drawing is a plan view of the key holder in closedcondition.

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the same in the open condition and with partsbroken away and appearing in section.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the reverse side of the holder.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the holder in open relation.

As shown in the several views the holder of this invention comprises anarrow, elongated form of container 7 for the blade portions of the keysand spaced parallel sides 8, 9 extended from opposite sidewalls of thecontainer and of a length to confine between them the head or handleportions of the keys.

The container is shown as of rectangular cross section, large enough tofreely receive the blades of the keys and the head confining extensions8, 9 are shown as of the same approximate width as the top and bottomwalls 10, 11 from which they project.

The heads of the keys are rotatably held in the confining extensions 8,9 by a pivot stud shown in the form of an elongated eyelet 12 flanged atone end at 13 and having radially projecting lugs 14 at the opposite endwhich can pass through a correspondingly radially notched opening 15 inthe other extension.

These radially projecting lugs may be turned out after first passing theeyelet through the circular opening 16 provided for it in the extension8.

This eyelet with the outstanding lugs is of a size to pass through theopenings in the heads of the keys so that after threading the eyeletthrough a group of selected keys the eyelet may be passed through thenotched opening in the second extension and be turned to seat the lugsinto holding recesses 17 provided to receive the same in the second headconfining extension.

A resilient washer 18 of sponge rubber or the like is seated beneath theflange or head 13 of the eyelet to apply sufiicient tension to hold theeyelet against turning and thus releasably locked in place.

Turning of the eyelet to release it or to locate it in the detentposition may be effected by a coin, knife blade or the like engaged in across slot 19 provided in the flanged end of the eyelet.

"ice

The keys are held with the blades covered and confined in the containerportion by a hinged cover 20 which, in the illustration, formsapproximately one half the cross sectional structure of the container.

The end view FIG. 4 shows how this cover is made up of one wall 21 ofthe full extent of one wall of the container and two wall extensions 22,23 of approximately half a complete side wall of the container,providing a hollow cover of approximtaely half the cross section of thecontainer and therefore adapted to fully open up the container formovement of the key blades into and out of the same.

This hollow cover is shown pivoted on a longitudinally extending hingepin 24 carrying a coiled spring 25 for snapping the cover into the fullyopen position.

A retainer for securing the cover in closed relation is shown in theform of a projecting clip 26 on the edge of the cover positioned to snapover a ridge 27 embossed on the opposing edge of the container wall 10.

The container may be made of a soft metal which will be work hardened inthe embossing and drawing operation to a finished spring temper. Thiswill give the container a spring quality such that the cover may then bereleased by simply squeezing or pinching the opposing front and backwalls 10, 11 of the container toward each other and whereupon as thecatch 26 releases hold on the ridge or corrugation 27 the spring 25 willsnap the cover into the open position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The ridge or corrugation 27 in the front wall may be extended on intothe head confining extension 8 as shown at 28 in FIG. 1 and similarly aridge or corrugation 29 may be embossed on the back extension in linewith the hinge pin, reinforcing and stifiening these parts and enablingthem to be made up of light sheet material.

To enable quick selection of keys the edges of the front and backextensions 8 and 9 are shown as notched at 30 for insertion of a thumbto rotate a selected key out into position where it can be grasped bythe fingers and turned out sufficiently for convenient use.

For a small number of keys the container portion of the holder may besubstantially square in cross section and providing a small unit butslightly larger than the width and length of the contained keys.

The head confining extensions 8 and 9 being only the Width of thecontainer portion expose the heads of the keys projecting beyondopposite edges of the same and hence enable easy identification of thedifferent keys confined in the holder.

The fixed half of the container carrying the head confining extensionsmay be made up as a single stamping and the hollow cover forming theother half of the container similarly may be stamped in a single piece.These parts may be produced at low cost and the eyelet or possibly otherform of pivot stud for the keys adds but little to the cost of thecomplete unit.

In addition to its functional uses the holder provides an attractivecase for keys ordinarily used and keeps them compactly grouped in aconvenient and desirable condition for carrying in a pocket or handbagor the like.

Individual keys may be readily placed in the holder or be removed bymeans of the releasable eyelet pivot. When released the eyelet is heldagainst loss by means of the radially projecting lugs on the inner endof the same.

The name of the owner, registration number, advertising matter or thelike may be imprinted or engraved on one or all of the sides of thecontainer, after the manner indicated in FIG. 3.

Additional reinforcing embossments may be impressed in the material ofthe holder where desirable, as illustrated, such as the reinforcingridge shown at 31 in FIG. 1 connecting the body and extension portionsof the holder. This ridge is shown extending from the station- I aryhalf of the container into the confining extension connected therewithand a similar reinforcement if desired may be impressed from theopposite side of the container into the confining portion connected withthat side.

What is claimed is:

l. A key holder comprising a narrow elongated container for the bladeportions of a stack of keys held on a common center, spaced parallelconfining portions extending from said container and of an extent toconfine the head portions of the keys disposed in said holder, a springretained eyelet connecting said spaced confining portions and forming apivotal mounting for the heads of the keys in said holder, saidcontainer having a hinged cover in line with the space between saidconfining portions openable to expose the blades of the keys confined inthe holder and a spring clip for releasably confining said cover inclosed position, said eyelet having a flange at one end and havingprojecting lugs at the opposite end, a yielding washer interposedbetween said flange and one of said confining portions and the otherconfining portion having notches to pass said lugs on the opposite endof said eyelet and depressed seats between said notches to receive saidprojecting lugs and hold the eyelet against turning into alignment ofthe lugs with said notches.

2. A key holder comprising a container of a size to hold the blades of agroup of keys stacked in alignment and comprising a longitudinally splitsubstantially rectangular cross section casing having a fixed half and amovable half in the form of a hollow cover hinged thereto, elongatedextensions projecting from said fixed half of the container spaced toconfine the head portions of such a stack of keys, a pivot stud for theheads of the confined keys extending between said extensions, a springclasp for securing the hinged cover in closed relation and a spring forthrowing the cover into fully open position when said spring clasp isreleased.

3. A key holder comprising a narrow elongated container for the bladeportions of a stack of keys held on a common center, spaced parallelconfining portions extending from said container and of an extent toconfine the head portions of the keys disposed in said holder, a springretained eyelet connecting said spaced confining portions and forming apivotal mounting for the heads of the keys in said holder, saidcontainer having a hinged cover in line with the space between saidconfining portions openable to expose the blades of the keys confined inthe holder, a spring clip for releasably confining said cover in closedposition, said cover being substantially half the cross sectionaldimensions of the container, leaving a stationary half container portionand a reinforcing ridge extending from said stationary half of thecontainer to the confining portion attached thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS548,065 Keyes Oct. 15, 1895 1,779,621 Moore Oct. 28, 1930 1,795,291 DunnMar. 10, 1931 1,924,134 Segal Aug. 29, 1933 1,943,844 Slotnick Jan. 16,1934 2,595,981 Prickett et al. May 6, 1952 2,634,600 Seely Apr. 14, 19532,706,902 Nichols Apr. 26, 1955

